The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-06
"Old Confed."

A paragraph which appeared in the
! MORNING News some time ago gave an ac-
! count of a box said to be kept by Capt. w.
| H. Harrison on his desk in the executive Of
| flee in Atlanta The box was called ''Old
| Confed, and it was said that contributions
/ were put into it for the benefit of disabled
! ex-Confederate soldiers. The paragraph
was based upon statement found in an
| Alabama paper. 1t was reprinted by pa
pers in all parts of the South.
1t will he remembered that few weeks
ago a resident of Savannah sent 81 to Capt
| Harrison, requesting him to put it in "Old
Confed." The letter accompanying the CON
tribution stated that the writer was an ex
Union soldier. Capt Harrison acknowledged
! the receipt of the dollar, but stated that
"Old Confed" was a myth.
Recently a disabled Confederate soldier
wrote to Capt. Harrison explaining that he
had read the paragraph about ''Old Confed,"
and asking assistance. The old soldiers
letter gave a pathetic account of his mis-
fortunes. He said that he was unable to
work as men blessed with good health and
strength do and in consequence he and his
family We're dependent. He had never
asked for help before. Capt Harrison APP
peals for contributions for the benefit of the
old soldier They may be sent either to
Capt Harrison or to Comptroller General
W. A. Wright.
1t is well known that Georgia is one of
the States that give pecuniary aid to ex-
Confederate soldiers She does not pension
hut Oh. oil 20
who have lost arms or legs, or, il preferred,
she gives the cash instead of the limbs.
During the last session of the General As
sembly the House of Representatives passed
a bill authorizing the periodical payment of
certain sums to all ex-Confederate soldiers
in the State who received permanent inju-
ries during the war. The bill was not passed
by the Senate, because it reached that body
just as the hour of adjournment for the re-
cess arrived The Senate, doubtless, will pass
the bill at the approaching summer session.
What Georgia does and intends to do for
her old soldiers is creditable to her Unfor-
tunately, however, she cannot afford to do
enough The sum heretofore periodically
expended under what is sometimes called
''the MANNED soldiers act' has been small,
and the bill mentioned as pending in the
Senate will not greatly increase it in the flu
ture. There are some old soldiers who are
absolutely dependent, and these require
more Substantial aid than the State is likely
to give. 1t has not been long since one of
this class attempted to commit suicide in
Atlanta because he was unable to provide
means for the support of himself and family
To unfortunates such as this unhappy vet
eran "Old Confed" would be boon
Doubtless Capt. Harrison's duties would
not allow him to act as the disbursing agent
of those who would be willing to contribute
to a fund for the benefit of old soldiers such
as have been described. There are, how
ever, veterans associations in the State,
and they, no doubt, would gladly arrange
for the proper care of fund devoted to the
purpose mentioned. AS the war period re-
cedes its disabled veterans become more
helpless, and unless some adequate provision
is made for them not few will end their
hives in abject want.